Nissan confirms Datsun for India

Few weeks back it was reported that the Nissan Motors is contemplating the revival of its former nameplate of Datsun for the purpose of building and selling low-cost vehicles in the emerging markets. At 2012 Geneva Motor Show when the Chief Executive of Nissan Motors, Carlos Ghosn was asked about the rumors surrounding the Datsun brand, his overmodest reaction on the subject further fueled the speculations. The Datsun brand has been desolated since 30 years and now the Nissan Motors is attempting the re-incarnate it, some close sources reported. The company is expected to officially announce the resuscitation of the brand. The Datsun brand will not only be introduced in the Indian car market but will also be introduced in Russia, Indonesia and other Asian countries. By 2014 the Indian car market is expected to see the cars with the Datsun nametag.

The driving force behind this resurrection is Nissan’s intention of building and selling economical cars in the developing markets without compromising on its image and reputation. Datsun was started in Japan in 1932 and it entered the American car market in the year 1958. The brand had equipped its cars with highly reliable engines that had impressive fuel efficiency; because of this the brand was selling cars in good numbers in the American market. In the mid-80’s the parent company Nissan decided to sell its cars with its own name and thus in that attempt retired the Datsun brand. Plans of development of a low cost car by Nissan India along with Ashok Leyland have also been reported. This could possibly mean that the low-cost car from the joint venture of Nissan and Ashok Leyland will be released under the Datsun brand. The speculations would rest only after the official announcement that the company is expected to make this week.